The 2021 Red Sea International Film Festival was the inaugural edition a film festival in the Middle East established by the Saudi Arabian government and set in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The winner of the Best Film in competition was Brighton 4th (), directed by Levan Koguashvili.
The creation of a film festival was considered significant as cinema was officially banned in Saudi Arabia until reforms under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman lifted restrictions with a screening of Marvel's Black Panther in April 2018. The Saudi Film Commission then announced a strategy designed to grow the film industry's revenue to $500 million.
The event came after several boycott calls by the critics, who warned that the Saudi authorities were attempting to divert the international attention from the country's poor human rights records. The Kingdom was being accused of using culture to whitewash its image at a global level. One of the critics said that without freedom of speech, the festival descended into propaganda.
The festival was originally conceived in 2019 with a plan to host the first festival in April 2020. However the COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the start by more than a year.’
Red Sea Souk The Red Sea Souk, an industry marketplace, took place concurrently, attracting over 3,000 professionals. The Souk showcases a number of projects from the Middle East, Africa and other regions to connect them with support and financing. Of the Red Sea Souk slate from 2021, 10 of them were selected for international festivals — including Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival and Locarno Film Festival.
Juries
Features competition Giuseppe Tornatore, Italian director and screenwriter – Jury President Hend Sabry, Tunisian actress Cherien Dabis, Palestinian-American director, writer, actor and producer Daniela Michel, Mexican festival director and founder of the Morelia International Film Festival Abdulaziz Alshlahei, Saudi film director
Shorts competition Marwan Hamed, Egyptian director – Jury President Ahd Kamel, Saudi Arabian actress and director Khadar Ayderus, Finnish-Somali director and writer
Official Selection
The festival screened 138 films from 67 countries with 16 films in the competition section.
It opened on 6 December 2021 with Joe Wright's Cyrano and closed on 15 December with the world premiere of Kabir Khan's film 83.
Red Sea Competition English title Original title Director(s) Production country Brighton 4th Levan Koguashvili Georgia, Russia, Bulgaria, United States, Monaco Communion (Qorban) Nejib Belkadhi Tunisia PAKA (River of Blood) Nithin Lukose India Huda's Salon Hany Abu-Assad Palestine, Netherlands, Germany, Qatar, Egypt Soula Salah Issaad Algeria, France Europa Europa Haider Rashid Iraq, Italy, Kuwait Yuni Yuni Kamila Andini Indonesia, Singapore, France, Australia Saloum Saloum Jean Luc Herbulot Senegal, France Rupture Hamzah K. Jamjoom Saudi Arabia Rehana Maryam Noor Abdullah Mohammad Saad Bangladesh, Singapore, Qatar Hit the Road Panah Panahi Iran Life Suits Me Well Al Hadi Ulad-Mohand Morocco, France Neighbours Neighbours Mano Khalil Syria, Switzerland Farha Darin J Sallam Jordan Sharaf Samir Nasr Germany, Tunisia, Egypt, Sweden, Luxembourg The Alleys Bassel Ghandour Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
Official Awards
Winners
Award Film Original title Director(s) Production country Best Film Brighton 4th Levan Koguashvili Georgia, Russia, Bulgaria, United States, Monaco Best Director Europa Europa Haider Rashid Iraq, Italy, Kuwait Jury Prize Hit the Road Panah Panahi Iran Best Actor Europa Europa Adam Ali (performance); dir. Haider Rashid Iraq, Italy, Kuwait Best Actress Yuni Yuni Arawinda Kirana (performance); dir. Kamila Andini Indonesia, Singapore, France, Australia Best Saudi Film Rupture Hamzah K. Jamjoom Saudi Arabia Audience Award You Resemble Me You Resemble Me Dina Amer Egypt, France, United States Immersive Silver Yusr Samsara Samsara Hsin-Chien Huang Taiwan Immersive Gold Yusr End of Night End of Night David Adler Denmark, France Short Competition Golden Yusr Tala’Vision Tala’Vision Murad Abu Eisheh Jordan, Germany Special Mention Farha Darin J Sallam Jordan Best Cinematic Contribution Hit the Road (Cinematography by Amin Jafari) Iran Best Screenplay Neighbours Neighbours Mano Khalil Syria, Switzerland
References